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Kincardine set to host first Pride Parade June 24 this weekend in lakeside downtown

Wednesday, June 21, 2017
12:40:42 EDT PM

Members of Kincardine District Secondary School's Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) club recently joined with Bluewater School Board representatives at the Kincardine Municipal Administration Centre to raise the Pride flag. It will also fly at the Kincardine library and Davidson Centre. L-R: Taking part in the flag raising was Watson Morris, Jan Johnstone, Raza Hussein, Wendy Kolohon, Suzanne Kennedy, Joan Beecroft and Judy Lendon.

Kincardine Pride Parade preparations have shifted into high gear, with the June 24 event approaching this weekend.

Organizers are anticipating a great day, with LGBTQ supporters coming to cheer Families, individuals, groups, employers, unions and other organizations are invited to demonstrate their support for LGBTQ inclusiveness and equality by joining this family-friendly celebration with decorated vehicles, floats, signs, music or simply by walking along.

“We have been overwhelmed by the support and anticipation we are getting from the entire Kincardine community: residents, businesses, sponsors, media,” said Kincardine Pride director Fort Papalia. “Pride decorations are going up in downtown Kincardine already!”

The parade will start to assemble at Connaught Park on Saturday June 24 at 10 a.m. and leave for Victoria Park at 11 a.m.

The historic First Pride Parade in Bruce County and surrounding area will feature family-oriented fun in lakeside downtown Kincardine, followed by beach time and traditional Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band parade at 8 p.m.

Since the beginning of Pride Month, Papalia said the Kincardine Pride Parade committee has had a great time meeting some of their supporters at a fundraising dinner, hosted by Kincardine’s Boston Pizza, and featuring local singers, rainbow pizza and some Pride cake.

The Municipality of Kincardine has raised the Pride Flag for the first time at the local Municipal Offices, to be followed with Pride Flag raising at the Kincardine Library and Davidson Centre to demonstrate that the entire Kincardine community is committed to inclusiveness, acceptance and welcoming of residents, visitors and businesses, regardless of gender-identity.

Teacher Watson Morris said the story of the Pride flag being raised in the municipality of Kincardine is one that both reflects the journey of many students at KDSS as well as symbolizing the social-justice oriented efforts of citizens in the community.

Morris said the past four years Bluewater board has introduced Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs through the leadership of Lori Wilder and pioneering work of Joan Beecroft, which has led to a better acceptance of youth to the differences many adults struggle with.

“The students of our club have welcomed and introduced travelling organizations that

presented dramatic arts presentations that have advocated issues of social justice, not only those addressing personal identity but also those which have addressed healthy relationships between adolescents,” he said. “The diversity of our students at KDSS is reflected in the diverse paradigms of the citizens of the Municipality of Kincardine.”